Princess Celestia: The Fall of Canterlot (MLP AU)

Chapter 96: A New Bond

                      Hours after Luna's tearful departure, the Crystal Palace lay enveloped in an almost reverent quiet. Sunlight streamed through the grand crystalline windows, casting soft, prismatic patterns along the marble floors. Empress Amore found herself pacing slowly through the halls, her heart weighed with a blend of sorrow and newfound purpose. The parting moments with Luna had left a lasting impression, and her solemn vow to care for Flash echoed in her mind. She was bound by duty and love alike, charged with raising the precious young colt in a world he would one day come to understand.

As Amore pondered this, the soft patter of tiny hooves approached her from down the corridor. Princess Cadence, her infant daughter, toddled over with her usual curiosity lighting up her eyes. Her attention was caught by something unusual—a small crib nestled beside the grand doors of the royal chambers. Tilting her head, Cadence stared at the crib in wonder before she called out, "Mommy?"

A gentle smile crossed Empress Amore's face as she approached her daughter, who was pointing at the crib with a mixture of awe and confusion. "Mommy, who's this?" Cadence asked, looking up at her mother with wide, curious eyes.

Amore knelt beside her daughter, wrapping a gentle foreleg around her. Together, they gazed down at the peaceful colt, who lay sound asleep within the cradle, his tiny form wrapped in a soft, crystalline-blue blanket. His chest rose and fell with each slow, steady breath, his innocence untouched by the world outside the palace walls.

"This," Amore began softly, her voice gentle, "is Flash Sentry."

Cadence's eyes sparkled with curiosity, her brow knitting together as she looked at the little foal. "Why is he here, Mommy? Where did he come from?"

Empress Amore smiled, brushing her daughter's mane as she chose her words carefully. "Flash's mother, Princess Luna, brought him here to keep him safe, just as I keep you safe. She had to go back to her kingdom, and she asked if I would watch over Flash for her. So he will stay here, with us, and I will care for him like I care for you."

Cadence looked up at her mother, still puzzled but accepting her words with the earnestness of her young age. "Does that mean he's like my brother?" she asked, glancing back to the crib with growing warmth.

Amore's smile deepened, her heart swelling as she saw the compassion blossoming within her daughter. "Yes, my sweet Cadence. He can be like a brother to you. He may grow up with you here, learn with you, and play by your side. You will be there for each other."

Cadence's gaze softened, and she reached out with a tiny hoof, brushing it gently over the edge of Flash's blanket. The foal stirred slightly, letting out a soft murmur before his hoof instinctively curled around hers. A delighted giggle escaped Cadence's lips as she looked up at her mother, her eyes shining with newfound joy.

"I think he likes me!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with the simple wonder of a child. She leaned over the crib, touching Flash's hoof with gentle reverence, as though realizing the importance of this moment.

Empress Amore felt her heart fill with a bittersweet warmth as she watched the two foals connect. Here, in the quiet of the palace, she could see the beginning of a bond that she hoped would only deepen over time. Cadence's gentleness and spirit would surely be a source of love and strength for Flash, who, even at his young age, already seemed in need of that quiet resilience.

With a tender smile, Amore leaned down to press a gentle kiss to Cadence's head. "You'll be a wonderful friend to him, my dear. Just remember, he's little, and needs a lot of care. You'll have to be very gentle and patient with him."

Cadence nodded, her tiny chest puffing out with pride at the responsibility. "I'll be careful, Mommy. I'll be the best friend he ever had."

As Amore gazed at her daughter, a swell of pride mingled with a pang of sadness. She had watched Cadence grow with her vibrant spirit and joyful nature, but she also recognized the responsibility she was now asking her daughter to share. This burden, though small, was the first step in a journey that would shape her young life.

Amore knelt down further, drawing Cadence into a hug. "Remember, love and kindness are the most important things we can share with others. And when you love someone, you help them through everything, even if it's hard."

Cadence leaned into her mother's embrace, her small hooves wrapping around Amore's neck. "I promise, Mommy," she whispered, her voice filled with conviction.

Amore's heart warmed as she felt the sincerity in her daughter's words. She watched Cadence as she returned her focus to Flash, an expression of awe and affection already lighting her young face. It was a glimpse into the future, one she hoped would be marked by love, resilience, and the quiet courage she saw in her daughter even now.

As Amore led Cadence down the hall toward the nursery, she cast a final glance at the crib, at the foal who now held a place in her heart as well as her home. She felt the weight of Luna's trust and the importance of her own promise to keep Flash safe, to love him as one of her own. Her mind turned to the days ahead, knowing they would be full of challenges and triumphs alike.

In that moment, Empress Amore knew that her kingdom, her family, and her daughter's future would be forever intertwined with the life of this young colt. And for now, she allowed herself a moment of peace, knowing that love, above all else, would be their guiding light.